'''Valka''' is a town in [[Latvia]]. It is the capital of Valka district.

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'''Valka''' is a town in northern [[Latvia]].

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The town lies 164 km from [[Riga]] on the border with [[Estonia]]. Valka and the Estonian town [[Valga]] are twins, separated by the Estonian/Latvian border. The border was marked out in 1920 by an international jury headed by British Colonel Tallents. Before it was one town.

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The town lies 160 km from [[Riga]] on the border with [[Estonia]]. Valka and the Estonian town of [[Valga]] are actually one town, divided by Estonian/Latvian border. The border was marked out in 1920 by an international jury headed by British Colonel Tallents. After the expansion of Schengen Agreement to Latvia and Estonia in 2007 all the border crossing-points and fences were removed.

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With ~6500 people it is one of the smallest district centres in Latvia.

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[[Image:20040809101043.jpg]]

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With approximately 6200 people it is one of the smallest cities in Latvia.

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[[Image:20040809101043.jpg|thumb|200px|Raina Street in Valka]]

==Get in==

==Get in==

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The train (the nearest station is Lugaži - 3km from the centre)and bus connects Valka to Riga. The train station on Estonian side connects it to [[Tallinn]] through [[Tartu]].

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The train from Valga and bus connects Valka to [[Riga]] several times a day.

==Get around==

==Get around==

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There are busses serving the town but actually the best way is going by foot or bycicle. At the end of 2007 the new route connecting Valka and Valga will be openned.

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There are buses serving the town but actually the best way is going by foot or bicycle. At the end of 2007 the new route running through Valka and [[Valga]] was opened.

* '''The building of former Valka railway station''' - 4 Poruka Street, beautiful red brick building, now almost in ruins.

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* '''Former military bunkers of USSR army''' - 23 Talavas Street, the 3 bunkers are full of legends and in a bad condition at the moment. There is a detail design under development to make a photo, video and music club in there.

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* '''The War Cemetery Memorial''' - a monumental piece of landscape architecture dedicated to the Soviet soldiers killed in the Second World War. The granite wall of the memorial has 414 names inscribed. The memorial is situated between Lugaži Cemetery with an access path starting from Rīgas Street.

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* '''Pedele recreational area''' - 350 m continuation of Pedele recreational zone in Valga, although constructed differently in wood (contrary to asphalted tracks on Estonian side). From the watching platform on Putraskalns there is a nice view over Valka and Valga. The detail design is made to construct it throughout the city as far as Lake Zagezers (6000 m of tracks totally).

==Do==

==Do==

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There is nothing much to do in Valka at the moment, however, it's a must to visit the Estonian side of the town once you are here. Nevertheless the town council is being consistent to develop their town. The new International Studies Centre of University of Latvia will be located in Valka which brings foreigners to the town.

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It's a must to visit the Estonian side once you are here. As the local goverment is consistently trying to develop their town, the new International Studies Centre of University of Latvia will be located in Valka with the aim to attract foreigners.

==Eat==

==Eat==

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- '''Bistro "Elvi"''', 54 Ausekla Street

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* '''Bistro "Jumis"''', 10 Rigas Street

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- '''Otra elpa''', 12 Zvaigznu Street

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- '''Rits''', 5 Rigas Street

==Sleep==

==Sleep==

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- '''Guest house "Otra elpa"''', 12 Zvaigznu Street

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- '''Guest house "Otra elpa"''', 12 Zvaigznu Street.

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- '''Guest house "Jumis"''', 10 Rigas Street.

==Contact==

==Contact==

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The area code for the town is '''47'''

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The area code for the town is '''47'''.

The local public library has a public internet access (address - 22 Rigas Street)

The local public library has a public internet access (address - 22 Rigas Street)

==Get out==

==Get out==

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Valka is the only place in Latvia very you can get by train to Estonian capital [[Tallinn]], only you have to cross the border to get to Estonian side of the town.

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*'''[[Seda (Latvia)|Seda]]''' - located some 20 km southwest from Valka, was founded in 1953 in an uninhabited area, it still embodies the pomp of Communist shock-work. The design and structure of the town centre is a wonderful example of the monumental architecture of Stalinist times, which has not been ruined by any new building yet.

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*'''[[Smiltene]]'''

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The town of '''Smiltene''' in Valka district is worth a visit.

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[[wts:Category:Valka]]

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[[WikiPedia:Valka]]

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[[nl:Valka]]

Latest revision as of 13:17, 5 September 2012

Valka is a town in northern Latvia.
The town lies 160 km from Riga on the border with Estonia. Valka and the Estonian town of Valga are actually one town, divided by Estonian/Latvian border. The border was marked out in 1920 by an international jury headed by British Colonel Tallents. After the expansion of Schengen Agreement to Latvia and Estonia in 2007 all the border crossing-points and fences were removed.

With approximately 6200 people it is one of the smallest cities in Latvia.

The building of former Valka railway station - 4 Poruka Street, beautiful red brick building, now almost in ruins.

Former military bunkers of USSR army - 23 Talavas Street, the 3 bunkers are full of legends and in a bad condition at the moment. There is a detail design under development to make a photo, video and music club in there.

The War Cemetery Memorial - a monumental piece of landscape architecture dedicated to the Soviet soldiers killed in the Second World War. The granite wall of the memorial has 414 names inscribed. The memorial is situated between Lugaži Cemetery with an access path starting from Rīgas Street.

Pedele recreational area - 350 m continuation of Pedele recreational zone in Valga, although constructed differently in wood (contrary to asphalted tracks on Estonian side). From the watching platform on Putraskalns there is a nice view over Valka and Valga. The detail design is made to construct it throughout the city as far as Lake Zagezers (6000 m of tracks totally).

It's a must to visit the Estonian side once you are here. As the local goverment is consistently trying to develop their town, the new International Studies Centre of University of Latvia will be located in Valka with the aim to attract foreigners.

Seda - located some 20 km southwest from Valka, was founded in 1953 in an uninhabited area, it still embodies the pomp of Communist shock-work. The design and structure of the town centre is a wonderful example of the monumental architecture of Stalinist times, which has not been ruined by any new building yet.